The Portland daily press., 1887-11-26

example"
And here was Rick trying to draw that lit
tie sinner into naughty plan which be had
already decided on.
And Samson? That small heather readi-
ly agreed to all Rick proposed, and finally
consented to abstract the pies from the PAN
try shelf, and hand them to Rick through
the window. Isay pies, for the only condi-
ton made by Samson was that he should
have one, too.
"Dere's such lot Polly Ann won't nebber
miss 'emp
And Rick agreed.
The day before Thanksgiving was the APP
pointed time, and on that day the plan was
duly carried out
The pies were not to be eaten until Thanks
giving Day, after dinner; SO the conspira-
tors stealthily made their way to the barn
and hid them in the loft.
Once safely concealed, Kicks greediness
grew still more Unsuitable and in rather
disconnected tone he said:
81 think ought to have both pies, Samson.
You'll have pie, all you want at dinner, and
don't see what you want whole one be-
sides for"
But Samson strenuously opposed yielding
up his pie, and in his excitement at the
thought, his eyes rolled SO wildly and the
whites showed SO startlingly in the semi
darkness of the loft, that Rick grew really
alarmed. and with an impatient "All right"
swung himself through the trap-door and
down the ladder.
All the rest of that day the two boys feast
o1 In, {ha MA
| Thanksgiving morning Samson could not
resist the temptation to take another peep
at the crisp beauty he had decided ON for
himself. So, without saying anything to
Rick, he once more made his way up into
the loft and burrowed down in the fresh,
sweet hay in the corner.
The pies were not there!
For one moment Samson sat half para
lyzed at the discoverys Had they taken to
themselves wings and flown away? Had
Jonas found them? or
An exclamation. of delight broke from the
little rogue, as CHANGING upward In his per-
picked mental questioning, he saw the pies
snugly esconced Oh broad, fat beam, close
up to the roof.
He knew instantly that no one but Rick
could have placed them there.
AS he arrived at that conclusion, new
light dawhed on his busy little brain.
He drew long, indignant breath.
rick put dem dere his own self To-
night he'd had 'em bofe! But we'll see
bout datl"
son flung his hat and coat on the hay. slip
n a. ,l,< a
nimbly make his way up to the rafte-s.
He was even better climber than Rick,
and in very few minutes was back on the
hay with both pies. although compelled to
make two trips for them.
In his indignation against Rick, he had de-
termined to eat them both; but as he sur
veyed them in fond admiration, bright idea
came into his woolly head.
Chuckling with delight, he threw himself
on the hay and rolled about, kicking up his
heels and fairly hugging himself in his glee.
Finally subsiding, he drew out clasp
~ from Grandma Taylor land
- oven Polly could not
kniic-a sus the upper
have excelled, carefully separate..
crust of each pie from the lower. Then /,
with both hands he scooped out the juicy |
mincemeat, which he swallowed with many |
a sigh of satisfaction. iqs.
Not until the last handful of mince had |
been scraped from the second pie did he |
stop. Then, with deep breath of content, |
or oyer-fullness, he carefully replaced the |
crisp, brown upper crusts, pressing the |
edges together, and restoring them as far as |
possible TO their former appearance.
In two more trips the hollow mockeries
were put in their hiding place on the beam,
and Samson, chuckling inwardly, descended
from the loft and calmly made his way to
the house.
he met Rick near the kitchen door. and
with clever discrimination he said in a whis-
per: f4Fst
hi, Rick but won't we hab good time
dis afternoon"
'Why, what do you mean?" asked Rick,
with an unsuccessful attempt to appear un-
conscious of his meaning.
''Dem pies. Rickp'
And, winking mysteriously, Samson poked
Rick under the arm; then, with motion
toward the barn, ran off to answer call
from Polly Ann. as
Polly Ann had an errand for Samson to do
in town about six miles distant, and. some
what to Kicks surprise, he went without any
dinner.
Now was Kicks chance. He quickly made
his way to the barn. and, after assuring him
self that Jonas was nowhere around, mount
ed the ladder to the loft. Divesting himself
of his shoes and stockings, he climbed up
the rafters. and grasping pie, returned to
the floor. Then up again, and he descended
with the other. -
Too intent on tasting them to notice any
thing unusual in their appearance, he cut
into one with his penknife.
A cry of amazement broke from him. 1t
was hollow
The same moment he made this discovery,
he made another. The ladder was jerked
from the trap-door, and Samson's voice
called mockingly:
Hi, RickI Don't dem pies taste good?
Use goin' off to Middletown, l is, fer arrant
for Polly Ann; an I'll be back some time
fore supper. Yahi yah Goodbye"
And Samson was gone.
All the morning Grandma Taylor Won
dered what had become of Rick.
Reckon be went with Samson, "Isuggested
Jonas; while Polly Ann declared that "fer
her part she didn't see what was SO 'tractive
about that young African
Dinner hour came and went. and neither
of the boys had put in an appearance, great
ly to the anxiety of Grandma Taylor. just
as it was growing dark, rumbling farm
wagon drew up before the house, and Mr..
Jones, neighboring farmer, alighted. Lift
ing small bundle of something from the
wagon, he came up the path and knocked at
the kitchen door. a
Polly Ann opened it, and Mr.. Jones des
posted ON the threshold his burden, which.
to the amazement of all, staggered forward
upon pair of very tottering legs and re-
solved itself into Samson! He was actually
pale, and dropped into the nearest chair.
''What upon earth is the matter?" cried
Polly Ann; while grandma asked anxiously:
''Where is Rick?"
Don't know nuthin' about no Rick" said
Mr.. Jones. "But was in the store over to
Middletown, when this youngster came in,
sick as death. He didn't know what allied
him, SO went to the drug store and got him
a dose of calomel He didn't want to take
it; but reckon know what's good for
II L. IL.